During the week of Aug 26 – Sept 1, 2013, our Canadian Junior National Powerlifting team will be traveling to Texas to compete at the World Junior Powerlifting Championships lead by Head Coach Avi Silverberg. Qualifying on this team is seven of our Nation’s strongest men and women under the age of twenty-three. In order for our Canadian athletes to qualify for a World Championship they need to have won their weight class at Nationals; a feat in and of itself that deserves much admiration. However, once an athlete reaches the pinnacle of success within Canada, they seek to take their skills internationally to compete against the World’s best.

Our current Team Canada athletes come from diverse backgrounds with a wide-range of experiences. Already on the team we have previous World competitors and medalists, but also a host of first-time members looking to advance their powerlifting careers. As we draw closer to the World Junior Championships, I will profile each athlete individually in order to showcase our homegrown powerlifting heroes. It is important to recognize that these junior athletes are already role models and leaders within the Canadian powerlifting community.

SAVANAH PORZUCZEK

Savanah Porzuczek started her powerlifting career in 2010, and has since competed in seven competitions. Every time Porzuczek steps onto the platform she is achieving personal best totals. In March 2013, she competed at the Canadian National Powerlifting Championships and totalled 410k at 57k bodyweight, which earned her the best Overall Female Canadian Junior Athlete award. This award uses the Wilks formula, which allows athletes to be compared across weight classes. Her individual lifts are: 157.5k/347lb squat, 100k/220lb bench press, and 152.5k/336lb deadlift.

Porzuczek competed on the National Team for the first-time in 2011, where she traveled to Moose Jaw, Saskatechewan for the World Junior Powerlifting Championships. At this competition she finished 4th overall, putting up a solid total of 370k. Now, a couple years later, and stronger than ever before, Porzuczek’s sight is set on a medal. Porzuczek has improved her bench press and wants to go for the bench press gold medal – a weight that will be put on the bar for her to attempt. She also hopes to put together smart numbers on the squat and deadlift in order for her to be in the running for an overall podium finish.

Porzuczek trains with MoFo Barbell Club in Jonquiere, Quebec, which is home to many National-level powerlifters. Among them include Joel Boulianne, who is a Senior National Powerlifting Team Member and was ranked 14th in the World in 2013. Training with the best in the world has helped Porzuczek develop the skills necessary to achieve success at the International level. Check out some of Porzuczek’s training footage as she prepares for the World Championships.